MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Trey McKinney has been more nervous during the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair than any tournament in his short career. Country music helps ease that anxiousness, and it seemed like on Day 2, the smallmouth enjoyed the sound of fiddles and steel guitars too.
Illinois pro Trey McKinney maintains the lead on Day 2 of the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a total of 48 pounds, 5 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
“Country music makes me fish better, especially when I get out there and have a knot in my stomach,” the 20-year-old said.
The second-year pro from Carbondale, Ill., maintained his lead on Day 2 at Lake St. Clair, landing a limit weighing 23 pounds, 10 ounces on Friday to increase his two-day total to 48-5, anchoring his bag with a 5-8 smallmouth. McKinney’s lead over second place Tucker Smith is just 4 ounces, but the gap between him and third place Kyoya Fujita is almost 2 1/2 pounds.
Not only that, McKinney took the unofficial lead in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. That is partially to blame for his nervousness. The 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year could have won AOY in 2024 as well had it not been for self-inflicted errors.
“I’m coming in early and making sure I have all my T’s crossed,” McKinney said. “It’s not that I mean to do something, but one thing can make it all go away. I just want to make sure nothing happens, whether it be boat problems or losing fish.”
Winning was not the main focus for McKinney this week at St. Clair, given he was third in the points race entering this tournament. He did, however, land his personal best smallmouth, a 6-13 that indicated something special could go down.
“I didn’t see it coming. I was going to try and catch 22 every day and be good,” he said. “That fish was one perch away from being 7 pounds. I figured I might have a chance if there were a few more around, and I have caught my big one around that area every day. But, there are less and less every day.”
Opening the tournament with a limit weighing 24-11, McKinney has been targeting a specific bottom composition in Anchor Bay where short sand grass mixes with the taller grasses.
Using his forward-facing sonar, he has noticed many of the smallmouth begin their day feeding on the bottom. As the sun rises, the smallmouth rises in the water column, making it easier for McKinney to see and cast to.
While he hasn’t been able to predict when they will happen, McKinney has noticed bite windows emerge throughout the day.
“You’ll have a lull, and then at Noon you’ll have a hot streak,” he said. “It is weird. At one point in the day, I caught every bass I threw at. A half an hour later, nothing.”
Four baits have produced the bulk of his weight, but it has been difficult to dial in a specific forage to mimic.
“They just see something and eat it,” he explained. “They spit up crawfish, perch, minnow, anything they can find. I wish I could figure it out. I think the bigger ones eat perch.”
It was a slower start for McKinney on Day 2, landing only 18 pounds in the first couple hours of the day. Around noon though, he landed his two best smallmouth, a 4 1/2-pounder and the 5-8 on back-to-back casts. Later in the day, McKinney located a big smallmouth on his FFS and followed it for a quarter mile but couldn’t get it to commit to his bait.
“That was a new little area,” McKinney said. “I looked at my map and said, ‘Okay, this is where they were, where are they going to be?’ Maybe the fish moved out from where the boat pressure is, and it can work for me tomorrow.”
After landing 21-15 on Day 1 to land in 13th, Smith rocketed up the leaderboard with a tournament-best 26-2 limit of smallmouth to increase his total to 48-1.
“I didn’t expect this at all. I caught a giant yesterday, a 5 1/2, and that was the biggest one I had caught out here,” the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie said. “I was just excited to have two 5-pounders today and then I caught three more. It was just mind-blowing today.”
Although he struggled in the early morning, the Alabama pro stopped in an area where he caught a couple good ones on Day 1 and landed a 5-pounder around mid-morning. Another move produced three smallies over 5 pounds before the Auburn grad landed his final 5-pounder in a different spot later in the day.
Smith has discovered one contour range the bigger smallmouth seem to be setting up around, with two baits coaxing most of the bass into biting.
“There are specific feeding times for each place,” Smith said.
Fujita, meanwhile, landed 23-1 to add to his 22-13 Day 1 showing, keeping him on pace to make his second Championship Sunday at Lake St. Clair after finishing seventh in 2023.
“Good day, but very tough,” Fujita said. “The fish are very smart.”
A mix of grass and sand in 11 feet of water has been the key for the two-time Elite Series champion. He has pitched one bait to those areas, but only if he can see a smallmouth he believes to be 4 or 5 pounds on his Garmin LiveScope.
On Day 2, he filled out his limit by 10 a.m. and made several key culls throughout the day. His goal for Semifinal Saturday is to top Smith’s Day 2 mark.
“I try (to catch) 26 pounds,” he remarked.
Auburn, Ala., pro Logan Parks landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 5-13 smallmouth that anchored his 25-9 Day 2 limit. It was just an ounce short of the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, a 5-14 caught by Kentucky pro Matt Robertson on Day 1.
McKinney leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 690 points followed by Canadian pro Chris Johnston with 677 points. Fujita in third with 650 points followed by Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat in fourth with 648 points and Patrick Walters in fifth with 638 points. Will Davis Jr., Taku Ito, Parks, Tyler Williams and Paul Marks round out the Top 10.
The Top 50 anglers will launch from Brandenburg Park at 7 a.m. ET Saturday and return for weigh-in at 3:10 p.m. The Top 10 anglers at the conclusion of weigh-in will advance to the championship round and compete for the $100,000 first-place prize as well as a coveted blue trophy.
2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 8/7-8/10
Lake St. Clair, Macomb County MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 48-05 104
Day 1: 5 24-11 Day 2: 5 23-10
2. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 48-01 103
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 26-02
3. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 45-14 102
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 23-01
4. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 45-05 101 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 25-09
5. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 44-10 100
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 21-12
6. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 44-01 99
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 23-07
7. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 44-00 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 20-00
8. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 10 43-10 97
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 22-09
9. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 43-07 96
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 5 21-00
10. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 43-04 95
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 21-02
11. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 42-15 94
Day 1: 5 23-03 Day 2: 5 19-12
12. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 42-13 93
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 21-12
13. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 42-11 92
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 22-09
14. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 42-11 91
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 20-13
15. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 42-09 90
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 21-03
16. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 42-07 89
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 19-06
17. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 10 42-06 88
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 22-00
18. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 42-06 87
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 21-05
19. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 42-04 86
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 21-05
20. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 41-12 85
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 23-09
21. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 41-08 84
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 20-03
22. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 41-05 83
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 21-04
23. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 41-04 82
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 19-12
24. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 41-04 81
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 21-02
25. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 41-03 80
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 19-08
26. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 41-02 79
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 20-11
27. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 41-01 78
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 18-11
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 40-13 77
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 21-11
29. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 10 40-13 76
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 20-14
30. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 40-12 75
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 18-08
31. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 40-11 74
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 20-00
32. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 40-11 73
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 20-01
33. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 40-07 72
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 19-01
34. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 40-06 71
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 21-09
35. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 40-05 70
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 17-07
36. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 40-05 69
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 18-09
37. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 40-04 68
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 21-14
38. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 40-04 67
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 18-15
39. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 40-01 66
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 18-10
40. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 40-01 65
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 20-03
41. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 10 40-00 64
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 18-13
42. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 39-15 63
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 18-12
43. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 39-14 62
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 20-04
44. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 39-14 61
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 19-14
45. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 39-12 60
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 19-01
46. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 39-11 59
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 18-15
47. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 39-10 58
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 21-07
48. John Cox Debary, FL 10 39-10 57
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 19-08
49. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 39-08 56
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 20-02
50. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 39-07 55
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 16-10
51. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 39-05 54
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 18-13
52. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 39-05 0
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 20-04
53. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 39-05 52
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 19-04
54. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 39-04 51
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 18-08
55. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 39-03 50
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 20-10
56. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 39-03 49
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 19-12
57. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 39-02 48
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 18-14
58. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 39-02 47
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 19-12
59. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 38-12 46
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 19-05
60. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 38-07 45
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 18-08
61. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 38-05 44
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 19-15
62. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 38-03 43
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 18-14
62. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 38-03 43
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 19-05
64. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 37-15 41
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 18-02
65. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 37-14 40
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 20-09
66. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 37-08 39
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 20-00
67. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 10 37-05 38
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-01
68. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 37-03 37
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 17-09
69. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 37-02 36
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 20-12
70. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 37-02 35
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 19-04
71. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 37-01 34
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 19-07
72. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 37-01 33
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 18-08
73. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 36-15 32
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 20-08
74. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 36-10 31
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 20-13
75. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 36-08 30
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 17-01
76. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 36-05 29
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 19-14
77. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 36-05 28
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 16-08
78. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 36-02 27
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 21-03
79. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 35-12 26
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 16-14
80. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 35-12 25
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 18-09
81. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 35-11 24
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 17-05
82. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 35-11 23
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 18-02
83. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 35-08 22
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 17-05
84. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 35-06 21
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 17-10
85. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 35-00 20
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 15-14
86. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 34-12 19
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-07
87. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 34-07 18
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 18-13
88. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 34-07 17
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 16-09
89. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 34-03 16
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 15-02
90. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 33-15 15
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 15-14
91. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 33-12 14
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 18-13
92. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 10 33-09 13
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 18-04
93. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 33-08 12
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 17-08
94. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 33-07 11
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 18-02
95. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 33-04 10
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 14-08
96. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 32-09 9
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 15-15
97. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 32-08 8
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 14-12
98. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 31-15 7
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 14-09
99. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 31-10 6
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 16-02
100. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 9 30-07 5
Day 1: 4 12-11 Day 2: 5 17-12
101. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Logan Parks Auburn, AL 05-13 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 99 499 1949-07
2 100 500 1945-09
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199 999 3895-00
